Jim Fairweather often talks about how he and his team have something to prove.
Consider that status unresolved as South Kitsap suffered a 12-0 loss Saturday against Olympia in the Narrows League championship at Tacoma’s Heidelberg Park.
While the Wolves (14-4) went undefeated to win the Bridge Division, they lost to the top three teams — Bellarmine Prep, Central Kitsap and Olympia — and Fairweather said “it’s time to stop pretending.”
“We just told them it was embarrassing,” Fairweather said. “It’s stuff they already knew — I hope. If they’re not embarrassed, they’re in the wrong place. They’re out of touch with reality.”
The Wolves actually managed three hits against right-handed starter Tanner Justin. A year ago, they didn’t get a hit until Collin Monagle doubled down the left-field line with two outs in the seventh inning against left-hander Adam Conley, who now pitches at Washington State. But that game, a 4-0 Olympia win, went seven innings — two more than this season.
South, which now is 0-4 and hasn’t scored a run in 26 innings against the Bears during the last two seasons, saw the game come apart in the second inning.
Olympia (18-2) scored one run in the first inning when lead-off hitter Carter Manning, who singled, later crossed home from third base on a wild pitch.
The Bears further attacked left-handed starter Scott McGallian in the second. After a lead-off walk and a fly out, five consecutive batters reached base — two on errors — before McGallian was pulled for Gordy Anderson. McGallian, who threw just 24 of 48 pitches for strikes, allowed seven runs (four earned).
“We didn’t pitch well,” Fairweather said. “We didn’t play defense. And we obviously didn’t hit well, either.”
It didn’t get much better for the Wolves after the pitching change. Chris Womac singled before Garrett Hall flew out to center field for the second out. But Quinn Batt and Kramer Skidmore both followed with RBI singles before Drew Schultz, who finished 2 for 2 with four RBI, hit a three-run home run over the left-center field wall to cap the 10-run inning. Cole Loncar, the 13th batter of the inning, grounded out during the ensuing at-bat for the third out.
The Wolves take the Narrows’ second seed into Saturday’s West Central District playoffs. They play the South Puget Sound League runner-up Puyallup (17-3) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Heritage Park in Puyallup. The winner of that game advances to state, while the loser has another opportunity later in the day.
“We’ve got a long road,” Fairweather said. “We’ve got one week to right this ship or we’re going to go 0-2 next weekend. It will be 10-nothing, 10-nothing and see you later.
“If I was the other teams, I would be looking at this draw going, ‘Oh boy, I can’t wait to play them.’ “
Fairweather’s team lost its district opener against Puyallup last year before beating Stadium to advance to state.
“The last thing I said is, ‘You’ve got a standing eight count right now. Are you going to lay on the mat or are you going to get up and start fighting?’ “
Narrows League championship at Heidelberg Park
Olympia 12, South Kitsap 0
South Kitsap 000 00 — 0 3 3
Olympia 1(10)1 0x — 12 8 0
Scott McGallian, Gordy Anderson (2) and Gavin Fazio; Tanner Justin and Quinn Batt. W-Justin. L-McGallian.
Leading hitters: Carter Manning (O) 2-2 3 runs 2 RBI; Drew Schultz (O) 2-2 HR 4 RBI; Willie Willard (O) 1-3 run RBI; Chris Womac (O) 1-1 2 HBP run 2 RBI.
